Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra Caps Chamber Series with Works by Women Composers, including Sarah Gibson’s LACO-Commissioned I do not want horses

The final program on LACO’s popular Chamber Series curated by Concertmaster and Director of Chamber Music Margaret Batjer features lauded contributions to chamber music by women composers on Saturday, April 5, 7:30 pm, at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, and Sunday, April 6, 2025, 7:30 pm, at The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall in San Marino.

Among the highlights, LACO pays tribute to Sarah Gibson – an accomplished composer championed by the orchestra who passed away from cancer in July 2024 at age 38 – with a performance of Gibson’s I do not want horses or diamonds. LACO commissioned the work in celebration of the 200^th birthday of Clara Schumann.

Gibson said of her work, “The title comes from a letter Clara Schumann wrote to Robert Schumann early on in their courtship. In this letter, Clara was remarking that all she wanted was a simple and happy life with Robert, not one in which she needed to be spoiled or surrounded by expensive things—much to her father's dismay. To evoke that desired simplicity, I used a single chord progression from Clara Schumann's Romance No. 1 for violin and piano as the sole harmony and focal point of my piece.”

LACO artists also perform several Romantic-era treasures, including Clara Schumann’s timeless and heartfelt Three Romances, Op. 94; Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s rhapsodic String Quartet in E-flat major; and Louise Farrenc’s masterful but once forgotten Nonet, Op. 38, imbued with sonorous textures and intricate orchestrations.

In addition, the program features Down a trio for flute, viola, and harp by Los Angeles native Nokuthula Ngwenyama, whose music is celebrated for its rich timbres and emotional depth.

LACO’s Chamber Series showcases orchestra members and special guests on repertoire from the 12th century and early Baroque through the 20th century.

LACO recognizes the generous support of the Colburn Foundation. The Orchestra also receives public funding via grants from the National Endowment for the Arts; State of California; California Arts Council; the Los Angeles County Arts Commission; City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; Perenchio Foundation; and Walter J. Holly O. Thomson Foundation. LACO gratefully acknowledges Hogan Lovells US LLP for generous pro bono support. Steinway is the official piano of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.  

VANGUARD: FARRENC’S NONET is made possible, in part, with the generous support from Anne-Marie Alex Spataru and Joan Wynn.  Additional support is provided by Daniel Ohgi.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

The Huntington’s Rothenberg Hall is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108

For tickets ($47-$84) and information, please visit www.laco.org or call 213 221 3920.